And to the extent that it cantrain viewers to laugh at characters' unending put-downs of one another,to view ridicule as both the mode of social intercourse and theultimate art-form, television can reinforce its own queer ontology ofappearance: the most frightening prospect, for the well-conditionedviewer, becomes leaving oneself open to others' ridicule by betrayingpassé expressions of value, emotion, or vulnerability. Other peoplebecome judges; the crime is naïveté. The well-trained viewer becomeseven more allergic to people. Lonelier.
-David Foster Wallace
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